Depressing Finales- Page 2

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 3:14pm

The only one I remember really being sad at the end was Cabaret. This revival.

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 6:16pm

Wicked, Aida, and Parade would rank top 3 for me.

~*~Katie~*~

[Phantom05]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 6:33pm

My #1 vote goes to Les Mis...I cried like crazy! My other picks are: Miss Saigon, Parade, and Cabaret.

See Ya!

Phantom05

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 6:44pm

Aida's ending was more of a relief than depression.

[PJ]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 7:07pm

My vote goes for Cabaret as well.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 8:23pm

Have tp agree that depressing isn't really the right word for the end of Les Mis. Just because you cry doesn't mean you're depressed. The ending is one of hope and love, after all.

[alterego]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 9:57pm

EVITA it opens and closes at a funeral!

[sopranostar]

Posted: 12/25/03 at 10:32pm

I have to add my nod to Parade. I was still crying when I left the theater.

Posted: 12/26/03 at 1:04pm

As to Les Miz, the word that comes to mind for me is salvation. I see it as a celebration of Val Jean's life.

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 5:50pm

I also think Cabaret, Titanic, and Aida on top of Les Miz, Miss Saigon, and Wicked.

[Bway_Mill_Fan]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 6:50pm

Aida,Cabaret,Les Miz, and La Boheme.

why do you think Aida was relief, Bill?

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 6:56pm

Fiddler on the Roof was the first musical I saw that had a depressing ending and I've never forgotten that.

[dididda]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 9:07pm

last 5 years.

[lux02]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 9:16pm

cabaret and jekyll and hyde

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/26/03 at 9:23pm

Sweeney Todd has probably the most depressing musical finale I can think of, one that makes Les Miz look downright jolly.

I didn't think Wicked's ending was depressing. It's too much of a cop-out to be a downer.

Of course, there are other kinds of depressing finales. The fact that shows like The Boy From Oz and Wicked get standing ovations every night is at least as depressing as anything I can think of.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/27/03 at 1:39am

1. les mis even tho in the end the two luvers get to start a new life. (dont wanna giv it away if ppl havnt seen it =D)
2. aida was more bittersweet cuz they meet each otha again
3. urinetown wasnt THAT sad but it is if u think about it too much
nd thats wut i can think of so far
*l8r*

[jsargent]

Posted: 12/27/03 at 1:57am

Merrily We Roll Along. The ending of the show, but beginning of the story, is so optimistic and at the same time heartbreaking when you think back to the beginning where we already know the end.

[ktswaz]

Posted: 12/27/03 at 1:59am

Miss Saigon, Parade, and Phantom definitely get my nodd!

[fyffe]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 11:56pm

OOHHH OOOHH
I thought of one that no one else did!! Not to spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen it but.....

Blood Brothers gets my vote. Very depressing.

[Alix]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 3:37pm

I agree with Cabaret. I saw it for the third (and last ) time on Sunday and still left the theater shaking.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/31/03 at 4:22pm

Definitely Cabaret. The first time, I had NO idea it ended like that. I was speechless and shaking when I left. It's just so shocking. And I know I'll be crying this Sunday.... *packs tissues four days in advance*

[friesgirl]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 4:10am

"Of course, there are other kinds of depressing finales. The fact that shows like The Boy From Oz and Wicked get standing ovations every night is at least as depressing as anything I can think of."

Those standing ovations are probably more often than not for the wonderful performances from Hugh Jackman, Kristin Chenoweth, and Idina Menzel than the show as a whole, especially in the example of "Boy From Oz." I happen to think all three deserve them (the reason why *I* stood for both shows at curtain call when I saw them).

[dry2olives]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 6:17am

PJ Benjamin's final monologue in "Charlie and Algernon". Still the best acting performance I've ever seen in a musical.
dry2olives

[WSS2]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 2:17am

I think we need to clarify "depressing".

Does this mean it's really dark and leaves you with an bad feeling.

Or do you mean it's just sad.

Les Miz's ending is not depressing. What you might find depressing is that almost everyone is dead, but their spirit goes on and lives after this world.

Not real depressing.

And thank god for musicals that have the balls to end not on a happy, upbeat note. Siagon, Falsettos, Blood Brothers, West Side and others have gone against the typical MT happy ending and made people think. Updated On: 1/2/04 at 02:17 AM

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 9:07am

I also agree that the end to Les Miz isn't at all depressing. Is it sad? Of course it is. But it isn't depressing at all. The end to Cabaret isn't all that depressing either in my opinion. It's like a sucker punch to the gut, but remains more thought provoking than depressing. The only ending that really depresses me right now is Titanic. We're doing that show at my university right now and everytime we rehearse the final scene, I feel completely drained. Yeah, everyone reunites at the end, but it thoroughly depresses me because this really happened. Over a thousand lives were lost for no reason at all--how could that possibly be anything but depressing?